Scott Adams to Ask Council for Variances
The council will also consider a request by local businessman Scott Adams to grant him variances in order to build an office building on the corner of Courthouse Square and U.S. 41.
If the variances are approved and the structure is built, the plan is for Adams to include a French drain along the easterly right of way along Courthouse Square, according to submitted plans.
The corner lot is 5,000 square feet. The amount of impervious ground following completion of the project would be 4,000 square feet or 80% of the property. The city’s minimum yard setback requirements is 20 feet. To construct the facility, Adams needs to encroach on that setback space. If built, it would be the first new structure in the downtown area in at least a decade, Williams said. The last being the Inverness City Hall on West Main St. in 2006.
Williams told the Chronicle that it is common for downtown buildings to exceed the variance limit considering the downtown layout. He said Adams’ request was “not unreasonable.”
Adams is also paying the city $25,000 toward the Inverness’ future public parking.
The proposed design of the building includes aesthetic elements of from both city hall and the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum.
Adams originally wanted to build a six story building, but told the Chronicle that there were a few critics of the idea so he scaled down the structure to three stories.
Adams said the reduced height would not diminish from the building.
“I think aesthetically it’s going to complement the city just fine,” Adams told the Chronicle.
As for the reduced size, Adams said the building will still be able to offer sufficient office space. He expects to start construction in about two months. He said he will place a small billboard of the future building at the site when construction begins so people can see how the building will look.
He said that once the shell of the building is complete he can accommodate businesses wanting to lease space by designing the interior to suit their needs.
He would not say how much the building will cost to construct but said the price tag will be several million dollars. He estimates the payment to the city for future public parking, drainage, and other such costs would be about $100,000.
The site was once home to a bail bonds business. He said the area is already concrete and impervious so his new building will not add any additional stormwater problems.
“It’s going to be a beautiful building,” Adams said. “We’re going to be proud of it. Our name is going to be part of it.”
